CFO launches campaign to donate fresh chicken to Ontario’s hungry

Hon. Jeff Leal, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (front row center) joined by Henry Zantingh – CFO Chair, Rob Dougans – CFO CEO, CFO Board Members and CFO District Committee Representatives from across the province to announce CFO’s new Food Bank Donation Program at the Daily Bread Food Bank in Toronto. Contributed photo.

January 20, 2015, Toronto – Chicken Farmers of Ontario (CFO) and its 1100 family-run farms across Ontario have launched a new program in support of the province’s hungry. The CFO Food Bank Donation Program will help facilitate the donation of up to 300 chickens per farmer each year to local food banks. CFO has set an annual donation target of 100,000 chickens worth an equivalent retail value of $1 million.

“We’re very excited to have developed this program in partnership with the Ontario Association of Food Banks which will allow us for the first time to have an effective mechanism to contribute to those food bank client families looking to put safe, healthy, locally grown fresh chicken on their table,” said Henry Zantingh, Chair of Chicken Farmers of Ontario.

The new program is made possible in part by the Government of Ontario’s new Food Donation Tax Credit for Farmers (introduced with the Local Food Act) which helps promote local food contributions by offering farmers a 25 per cent tax credit for the fresh food they donate to Ontario food banks. Prior to this program CFO and its farmers supported the food bank system
primarily through cash donations.

“I applaud the Chicken Farmers of Ontario for encouraging their members to donate to food banks through this new campaign. Our government established the food donation tax credit to reward the generosity of farmers who donate to food banks, student nutrition programs, and other community food organizations. This credit, along with the initiative launched today by the CFO, will help provide fresh, healthy, local food to those who need it most, stated the Honourable Jeff Leal, Minister of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs.

Gail Nyberg, Executive Director of Daily Bread Food Bank, could not be happier about this new campaign. She says being able to provide clients with healthy food choices is so important and this program with the Chicken Farmers of Ontario and the Ontario Association of Food Banks will ensure that clients have a fresh and local protein option on their table. Proteins are one of our most needed food item groups, she says. Daily Bread Food Bank provides food and support to almost 200 food programs across Toronto that saw over 700,000 visits last year.

For more details on the CFO Food Bank Donation Program please click here